Chemical tanker accident causes 20km traffic jam

Traffic backed up as far as 20 kilometers, and National Highway 1 in Tainan City was blocked for around seven hours, after a chemical tanker carrying a highly volatile and toxic liquid was left stuck across the central traffic divider following a collision this morning, January 24.

According to the National Highway Police Bureau, at around 6:30 am, a gravel truck merging into southbound traffic from an on ramp at the Tainan Interchange collided with a Formosa Plastics chemical tanker carrying acrylonitrile. The chemical tanker then hit a sedan traveling in the fast lane before crashing into the central traffic divider.

The tanker was left astride the divider, with the tractor leaking fuel into the northbound lanes. Fortunately, the tank did not leak or rupture.

The accident severely impeded peak hour traffic in both directions, with a traffic jam as long as 20 kilometers, and some drivers reporting delays of more than two hours, according to United Daily News.

Nobody was injured in the accident, and all drivers involved were breath tested and cleared of drunk driving.

Due to the volatile and toxic nature of acrylonitrile, relevant personnel and equipment from chemical hazard units of the fire department and Environmental Protection Agency were called in to assist with clearing the accident site.

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